Rose misses 11th game

Thibodeau says guard day-to-day with sore groin

Bulls guard Derrick Rose missed his 11th game of the season Wednesday with a groin strain. (Scott Strazzante/Tribune photo)

Derrick Rose missed his 11th game Wednesday night, resting his sore groin against a Heat team that he relishes playing.

"It's tough for him to miss any game," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He just has to do his rehab and get himself ready to go."

Rose aggravated his groin, which the Tribune first reported Tuesday night, during Monday's victory over the Knicks.

"It's a strain, so it's probably a compilation of things over time," Thibodeau said.

Thibodeau called Rose day-to-day. Rose declined to address reporters after the morning shootaround and before the game. He had missed just six games combined during his first three seasons.

C.J. Watson returned from missing five games with a sprained left ankle to start for Rose. The Bulls also signed veteran guard Mike James to his third 10-day contract this season. James, who had been working out on his own, could be signed for the rest of the season when that contract expires.

"There's a familiarity here with the team, the coach and the system," James said. "It's a blessing to be back and I'm ready to take advantage of the opportunity."

Rearview mirror: Any time LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh enter the United Center, some Bulls fans ponder what might have been.

Like every team with significant salary cap room in the unprecedented free-agency class of 2010, the Bulls pursued all three players. Heat President Pat Riley landed the coup every team sought.

And Mike James, who began his career with the Heat playing for Riley, isn't surprised one bit.

"Coach has a way with words," James said. "Even when I played there, our pregame speeches, as soon as he finished, your eyes would get watery. Your adrenalin is extremely high. You're ready to run through a wall then and there just by his words. He is a great motivator. I'm pretty sure Coach was able to say words to them to get them excited in that moment."

Layups: Thibodeau, on whether homecourt advantage over the Heat is important come playoff time: "You want to put as many things in your favor as you can. Go step-by-step, strive for improvement each game. You want to be playing your best at the end of the season and be as healthy as possible." … Mike D'Antoni's exit from New York marked the third time in the last two seasons a coach's last game came against the Bulls. The Pacers fired Jim O'Brien and Jerry Sloan resigned from the Jazz after Bulls games last season.